ML Interest Tag: sleep-deprivation

This Dad’s Rant About Being ‘Mom’ for the Day is Either Freakin’ Hilarious or a Major Eye Roll

by Red Tricycle

Yep, this dad got more than he was askin’ for. When Brad Kearns wife, Sarah, fell ill, he had to step up his dad duties. He posted on Facebook his struggles watching over their two sons, two-year-old Knox and six-month-old Finn. And. It’s. Pretty. Epic.

 

Brad wrote:

“Today I had to be the mum…

You know when your wife always says “I wish I could be the dad” and you’re like … It’s the same thing…

Well sit back, relax, grab a drink, some popcorn, clear your schedule and hold onto your bootlaces because I’m about to take you on a ride that could only be likened to a backwards 100mph roller coaster that takes you through waterfalls of vomit, s**t and lots of tears. And once you’re finished with yours you will move onto the children’s.

It all started yesterday when I had to rush out of work. Because I’m a dad… And dads get respite for 40+ hours per week under the socially acceptable provisor ‘supporting the family’ while mum continues doing what women seem to so effortlessly do. “My liver has failed” read the text message from Sarah. And that’s when I became the mum. It’s now been 24 hours…

I feel like the Law & Order scene change beat would be appropriate about now.

5:00pm arrival at home – The Eagles Land
5:01pm… Initial scans of the house:
1. Living quarters trashed
2. Rations reduced to tiny teddies, gravy stock, tea bags and a clear lack of defrosted meat
3. Knox (2yo) limited speech ability wants to watch a DVD and communicated this by roaring at me. Finn (6wks) communicates only by way of the hot and cold guessing game, crying for hot and emphatic crying for cold

I put on the dvd which buys me time with Knox. Finn still making his same original request, I don’t seem to be getting any warmer. A bottle reduces him to a mere wimper. I’ll take it.

Who remembers Aristos The Surprise Chef? The bloke that can look at a bare ass pantry consisting of canned food and half rotten vegetables and create a 3 course meal fit for a King…
Well Knox had 2 minute noodles so (bleep) YOU ARISTOS!

As the night rolls on and my patience wears thin; I reduce myself to keeping Knox quiet by allowing him to place stickers on my (very hairy) legs. He was being quiet… “It’s okay, I can shave them off in the morning” was the thought. “Just don’t wake Finn”

It’s amazing how babies sleep the way they do. You know what I mean hey… When you change and finish feeding them, and you gently pick him up to burp him, and he burps, and you rub his back to make him comfortable. And his eyelids become heavy, and he breathes heavily through his nose as the comforting warmth becomes too much for him to be able to keep his eyes open. It’s really beautiful… And then you wrap him ever so gently, bring him up to your face and kiss him on his forehead, and sway as you walk into the room, as if you’re doing the slowest no partnered waltz you can do, and you’re wiggling your hips that bit extra because you’re the (bleep) man because the kid’s asleep, and you gently lay him in his bed, and cover him, and tuck him in, and tap the dummy for whatever the (bleep) reason we seem to do that for. It’s beautiful. It’s such a nice and serene moment you get to share with them…
Right up until the part where he (bleep) SCREAMS FROM THE HIGH HEAVENS… As if I’ve thrown him at a wall by his legs!

At least it’s only once a night right??? I mean, why wouldn’t I want to do it all again at 10:30….12:00….1:45….3:30….
I was so excited to know the trend would continue at 5:00 except it was actually the beginning of the new day. Did you know sleep deprivation is a form of torture???

So there I was… At 5:30am sitting on the lounge with Finn alert as an 18yr old Mt Druitt chick at Stereosonic… Just sittin… When Knox enters the room and says “Hi”. That’s the moment I realised I would rather be the dad.

So I got the kids ready for the day and planned my attack on the domestic duties. And by that I mean I spent the next 2 hours in the lounge room holding Finn, in a spiral of insomnia induced hallucinations allowing Knox to help himself to an assortment of fruit sticks, K-Time Twists and Sa-Ka-Ta’s until he eventually retreated to his train set. Texting Sarah “really good night babe”…

Then there was a Knock at the door… Have you ever been in a situation where someone walked in on you doing something you shouldn’t be? That’s the feeling I got when I opened the door to my mother in law. So there I was;
Unshaven, hair a mess, wearing the pants and socks from the day before and a hoodie covering up the fact I had no shirt on. Hadn’t showered, not yet brushed my teeth, Knox comes running out in his sleeping bag asking for a new Yoghurt muesli bar to be opened. I open the door to her to reveal the fact that knox’s noodles were still in a bowl on the table, stickers stuck to the goddamn lounge, the house an absolute mess.

It was in that moment I knew I was defeated. It was also in that moment I knew she knew I knew I was defeated. A vulnerability we try our best to keep from our in laws. That was only 16 hours of being a mum. And I failed.

I have not even mastered the ability to keep my own personal hygiene as a mum let alone the ability to keep a house, educate children, prepare meals and even venture outside for activities.

Sarah’s still in hospital… Get well soon babe :) and stay tuned for day 2″

Have any advice for Brad on being a new ‘mom?’ Share it in the comments below!

Featured Photo: DaDMum via Facebook

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Why is Baby Crying? Translate With an App

by Suzanna Logan

Have you ever desperately wished your baby could tell you why he’s crying? It’s your newbie’s main method of communicating wants and needs, but too often, the reasons behind those wails get lost in translation, especially when you’re deep in the trenches of sleep deprivation. Now, when Baby is testing out his windpipes (and your sanity), you can resist the urge to join him or her and reach for your iPhone instead and try the Cry Translator app. Read on to see how (and if) it works.

Photo: Morgan via Flickr

How Does This App Translate Cries?

The Cry Translator app claims to have cracked the crying code once and for all. Over a two year period, researchers recorded the cries of 100 newborn babies and stored those 200,000 sounds in an online database. When the app is activated, it matches your baby’s cries against all of those in the collection to let you know the most likely reason for the cry. According to the makers, the app is based on fairly straightforward science: a baby’s cry is a nuanced sound, varying in pitch, inflection and tone, but every infant’s voice tends to share those same subtleties when crying.

How Can You Use It?

Here’s how it works: When Baby is actively crying, open the app and place your device about one foot away from baby. Depending on the intensity of the cry, bars will move from yellow to green to red as your baby’s cry is matched with other similar sounds in the database. In about ten seconds (the wait is harder than you’d think!) the app will offer one of five reasons for the cry. Baby is either sleepy, hungry, bored, stressed or in discomfort.

A Few Tricks

There can’t be any background noise while the app is trying to decipher your baby’s whine. This can make it difficult to use if you have other children in the house or if you are in a public place where there is unavoidable noise. Another scenario that skews the results: having a baby who is prone to intermittent cries rather than all-out fire engine sobs. According to the app, the weeping must be “repetitive and continuous for at least 10 seconds.” If it isn’t, the app tends to return the “Bored” result over and over even if baby is hungry or tired.

Beyond Translating Cries

But the app doesn’t just stop at telling you why baby is crying. Thankfully, it also tells you what to do about it. Once the reading is given, users can click on a list of suggestions for how to calm baby’s tears. For example, if the baby is tired, the app lists eight tips for getting baby to sleep, including “giving the baby a warm bath” and “rocking child in a rocking chair or infant swing.” The app also includes YouTube links to lullabies and baby massage videos. While many of the tips are simple, they are a useful visual reminder to even veteran parents.

Age Matters

And, it should be noted, too, that the app doesn’t claim 100 percent accuracy. For infants under the age of two weeks, researchers believe parents can expect accuracy around 92 percent. For newborns from one to two months of age, the accuracy drops to 85 percent and down to 77 percent for a four month old baby. (The app is not recommended for babies over 6 months of age.)

Who Needs this App?

While seasoned parents may not find themselves reaching for the app on the regular, we can imagine it could be a lifesaving tool for the new parent learning the ropes in those initial crazy, sleep-deprived months or for a caregiver who spends limited time with baby.

The Cry Translator is available on itunes.com, $4.99.

Have you tried any apps to help soothe your crying baby? Tell us about them in the comments below. 

–Suzanna Palmer

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5 Reasons You’ll Love Season 2 of “Life in Pieces”

by Erin Lem
Partner Content

Sometimes there are TV shows that come along that just get you. Maybe for you it was My So-Called Life in the 90s or Friends at the turn of the century. Now that you’re a parent, finding relatable and realistic shows that are worth watching during the rare moments of kid-free time hasn’t always been easy…until now. Meet Life in Pieces, the comedy that gets you as a parent. Season two of this hit show debuts October 27, 2016 on CBS at 9:30 p.m. and is full of relatable, heart-warming and downright funny moments. Whether you’re a series regular or are tuning in for the first time, here are five reasons season two rocks.

1. It’s Totally Relatable
This show just gets you as a parent. Case in point: last season Greg, the dad played by Colin Hanks, gets pulled over on a late night diaper run. Why? He’s suspected of drunk driving when in fact, he’s simply exhausted from being a new parent. If this sounds totally relatable and oh-so-familiar, get ready for another season packed with moments just like this one. From embarrassing moments to bouts of sleep deprivation to everything in-between, Life in Pieces succeeds at portraying every day situations parents face in a comedic way.

2. And, It’s Actually Believable
Whether you’re a Life in Pieces fanatic or a series newbie, you’ll find the series’ relatable moments actually believable, which isn’t always an easy feat to pull off in Tinseltown. The show’s secret sauce is their writers and actors who have actually experienced a lot of the events portrayed in the show. As the folks at Life in Pieces tell us, it’s their belief that these awkward, funny and endearing moments are also happening to a lot of other families.

3. The Ensemble Cast Is Major
Get ready for a second season that is bursting with new plot lines, characters and funny moments. What makes it all so great (and will hold your attention) is the ensemble cast. Think Colin Hanks, Dianne West, James Brolin, Betsy Brandt and guest starring in the season premiere, Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally.

4. You Need a New Post-Bedtime Fix
If Caillou is driving you batty, it’s time for some adults-only TV post-bedtime. Cozy on up to season two of Life in Pieces sans the kids for a few sweet moments of well deserved you-time. The 30-minute show will have you reliving your first date, that awkward first meeting with your in-laws,  the “birds and bees” talk you wished your parents had done differently (like any other way), the moment you gave birth and more. We’re guessing you deserve some laughter and smiles.

5. Short Stories in a Sitcom? Win!
You’ll dig how the series is set up. It features a series of short stories, each focused on a different character. This all translates to a dynamic sitcom that’s anything but ordinary. It’ll keep your attention no matter how sleep deprived you are, and you’ll fall in love with the array of characters in each short story.

 

We’re so excited about the season two premiere of Life in Pieces. Catch it Thursday, October 27, 2016 at 9:30 p.m. on CBS and CBS All Access. Have you watched season one? What’s your favorite part of this show?

— Erin Lem and Amber Guetebier

photo courtesy of Life in Pieces

 

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8 Baby Sleep Tips for Desperate Parents

by rtlesleymiller

Whether you’re a first-time mom of a night owl newborn, or a third time mom of a baby who takes 28-minute naps, you can probably agree that sleep deprivation is one of the cruelest parts of parenting. Since there isn’t a one-size-fits-all sleep solution for babies (wouldn’t that be nice?) it often takes trial and error to determine how to get your baby to fall asleep and stay asleep. Start with these suggestions, and make sure to leave us a comment about which one ends up working for you.

photo credit: Simi Dimitric via Flickr

1. Protect the morning nap.
Naps are really important for babies, but generally speaking the morning nap is the most restorative because it’s easier for babies to fall back into deep, non-REM sleep. If you have older kids or a lifestyle that makes it hard to stay home for naps, at the very least consider prioritizing the morning nap. Do whatever it takes to insure a good nap during the first hours of the day, even if it means wearing the baby in a sling or putting them in a swing. You know your baby better than anyone else. If they have a preferred way or place to sleep, make sure you give them access to that during the morning hours.

2. Invest in a travel sized white noise machine.
Many babies are light sleepers or have trouble staying settled through sleep transitions. For on-the-go families, a travel size white noise machine can help keep babies stay asleep at soccer games, noisy playgrounds or restaurants. If you have a baby who wakes up every time the car stops, try a machine that attaches to your car seat. The consistency of sound may be enough to help them ignore a change in movement.

Photo credit: Oscar Pulido via Flickr

3. Move them to their own room.
Babies can be loud even when they’re asleep. If your child grunts, moves and fusses long before they fully wake up, it may be easier for everyone to transition him to his own room. By putting him in his own space, you’ll be able to sleep through all of his odd sounds instead of laying awake worried or analyzing whether or not he’s hungry or waking up. Some babies will actually sleep better when they’re not as close to mom’s smell. You, of course, will know what’s best for your child.

4. Try “the pause.”
Parenting book Bringing Up Bebe: One American Mother Discovers the Keys to French Parenting praises a baby sleep technique “le pause.” What is it? Essentially, it’s resisting the urge (and parenting instinct) to run to your baby at the first sound of stirring. A little grunt, a minute or two of crying (we’re not talking cry it out here), a few moments of flailing around in his crib are all a part of your baby waking and resettling himself. If you run to him immediately, you’re robbing him of this opportunity to learn to put himself back to sleep. Start le pause right away and you may see some results.

5. Try a sleep app to help analyze napping patterns.
Attention parents of cat nappers! Your baby’s 28-minute sleep cycle is totally a thing. Unlike adults, some little ones struggle with the transition between non-REM and REM sleep. The nap app Baby Connect helps parents track sleep cycles and analyze patterns such as when baby likes to sleep, and for how long. Using the information, parents can better determine when a nap is necessary, or when to be on standby to help your baby through the non-REM/REM sleep transition.

6. Put baby to sleep before they are fussy.
Babies each have their own way of communicating tiredness, and crying is usually a sign you’ve missed the optimum window. Young infants are often ready to nap again within 60-90 minutes of waking and 2 hours is a good mark for older babies, so start looking for sleep signs earlier than you may think. Eye rubbing, yawning and blank stares are all classic sleepy signs that indicate it’s time to start your bedtime or nap routine. If you catch your baby before he or she gets worked up, it will be much easier for them to fall asleep and stay asleep.

7. Try a special swaddle.
There are plenty of various swaddles, jackets, blankets and sacks on the market but the Zen Swaddle is becoming particularly popular with new parents who love how the product can fit baby from zero to six months without having to purchase various sizes. What makes the Zen Swaddle even more appealing is how it mimics a parent’s touch with two weighted pressure points, proven to stabilize heart rates and promote socio-emotional health.

8. Hire a sleep coach.
When all else fails, or you’ve simply reached the end of your rope, consider hiring a sleep coach. There are a variety of services; from local providers who can come to your house to online consultants who will e-mail you a personalized plan. The Baby Sleep Site is one such company that’s helped over 200,000 families worldwide and offers a variety of plans depending on your budget and needs. The site promises to never offer a one-size-fits-all solution, but rather works with parents to understand their child’s unique personality, and their families sleep goals.

What’s your biggest sleep struggle? Share your stories in the comments.

—Lesley Miller

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10 Crafty Chicago Moms You Need to Know

by writerredtri

Chicago moms are one crafty bunch. With skill, creativity and a certain genius that can only come from sleep deprivation, our local talents make goods for kids and babies, selling them on Etsy and in neighborhood shops. Want to meet a few? Click through our album to get to know Chicago moms (and one amazing grandma!) that craft everything from hair accessories to superhero capes to eco-friendly plushes.

Tami Gagne of Peanut Envy

A self-proclaimed fabric hoarder, Tami surrounds herself with vibrant prints and colors. Her company, Peanut Envy, makes one-of-a-kind plush Matryoshka dolls, owls and other sewn wonders. Tami started Peanut Envy after the birth of her third child because she "wanted to create something beautiful that could serve as a keepsake that a child could love and pass down to siblings or their own children one day.” Sewing and making jewelry have become a family affair at her home in Berwyn. Tami home schools her daughters (8 and 5) and her son (4), which allows them to create, sew and learn together. She also loves reading, bike riding and gardening with her kids. You can find her awesome creations in her Etsy shop, at craft fairs and at Local Goods Chicago.

Are you a mom that makes something for kids and babies? Introduce yourself to us in the Comments below!

— Natasha Davis

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Sleep On It: 4 Night Nurse Services To Bring You (and Baby) Sweet Dreams

by Phebe Wahl

All nighters ain’t what they used to be. There still might be bottles strewn everywhere, but once baby arrives, sleeping in the next day is no longer an option. When sleep deprivation gets scary, call in reinforcements from one of Atlanta’s baby nurse services. Experts in postpartum care and the excruciating art of sleep training, they can help ensure both you and baby get some much-needed rest.

Happy Baby Solutions
Happy Baby Solutions was founded by two moms who realized how hard it was to find quality care for their kids. Their professional baby nurses can ease the transition into becoming a new parent, offering advice on everything from swaddling to sleep schedules. They can also take the night shift so mama and daddy’s can catch some z’s.
404-592-2858

Rest Assured Infant Nursing
Rest Assured specializes in matching families with night nurses that are licensed RNs and certified in infant CPR. All have passed criminal background checks and are 100% insured so that you can “rest assured” your little love in is good hands.
888-277-1563

Baby Nurse To Go
Founded by Angela Buehler, Baby Nurse To Go is your one stop for Professional Baby Nurse Services , Sleep training, and newborn care and scheduling consultations.Based in Atlanta, Baby Nurse To Go founder Angela Buehler, originally hails from London. She is a multiples and preemie specialist, with over 25 years experience and offers baby nursing services that span the globe. Buehler will assist with sleep training, scheduling your baby and overall care your newest addition. She specializes in preemies and multiples, and with the special needs of apnea monitored babies, reflux, sensory integration disorder, and feeding techniques.
404.966.2661

Mothers Helping Hands
Specializing in night nurse infant care, Mothers Helping Hands also offers postpardum and newborn services to ease you and baby’s trasition home from the hospital. Their postpartum doulas take care of both baby and mom in the first days and weeks home. Best of all, their in-home night nurses will care for your infant so that you can get some sleep.
678.770.2313

How did you survive sleep deprivation with your baby? Tell us about it below!

—Phebe Wahl

All photos courtesy of Creative Commons via Flickr

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Hot Topic: Cheating Husbands

by Erin Lem

Editor’s Note: The launch of our new community forums has been delayed for a few weeks, but that hasn’t stopped readers from submitting questions they are eager for feedback on from other moms. We’ll be posting submissions in this format until our forums launch. You can offer your feedback in the comment section, or ask your own question to our audience here.

Katie L. (name changed to respect privacy), a Red Tricycle reader from Los Angeles, writes: “It may be my sleep deprivation (my five month old isn’t sleeping through the night yet), but I’m beginning to think my husband of 4 years is having an affair. He’s been “working late” three nights a week and has been acting distant ever since the baby arrived. I’m totally freaking out and I have no idea what to do. This is the time I need him most and he is never around. Should I confront him, check his emails (I know his password) or try couple counseling? Help me!”

Some of us at Red Tricycle think Katie should confront him, while others of us think she should do a little more digging to gather some facts. So, we’re leaving it up to our readers — what should Katie do? Have you experienced a similar situation with your spouse? Help a (sleep-deprived) mama out!

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A Few of Our Favorite iPhone Apps for Kids and Moms

by writerredtri

Serving up some tasty apps

iChalky

Can anyone remember life before the iPhone?  Were we all bored, disorganized, and disconnected?  Not anymore, thanks to all the fabulous, useful, and just plain fun applications available!  We’ve narrowed down a list of some of our favorite iPhone apps (for both kids and parents) to share with you tech-obsessed parents. Go grab your iPhone and start downloading!

1. MeeGenius – A collection of beautifully illustrated classic books that come with audio playback, word highlighting, and personalization so you can read your child’s favorite stories to him on the road or under the blanket.

2. BabyPhone – With this app you can program your iPhone to function as a baby monitor by setting the microphone sensitivity to a desired level (e.g. baby’s cry or babbling) that will call you on a different phone number when the microphone picks up on a sound.

3. Wheels on the Bus – This “classic” app keeps toddlers busy with many versions of the popular song, interactive components, and great graphics.  Why not try singing this song in Spanish, French, German, and Italian, too?

4. iChalky – Kids of all ages will cannot meet a cooler stick figure.  Chalky responds to every move and sound of the iPhone and you can manipulate Chalky with your fingers on the touchpad.  He will even dance when you play tunes from the iPod!

5. I Hear Ewe – This fun game helps the young ones learn and recognize 24 different animals.  By tapping on a button of an animal, the name and noise each makes is played.  This game is also featured in other languages (Chinese, anyone?) and helps develop pointer finger skills, too.

6. Build a Brag Book – Savvy moms and dads (and grandparents too!) can build a virtual scrapbook right on the iPhone by selecting a storybook template and personalizing it with photos right from the phone and adding details about the family to the story.

7. Flags Fun – Matching games are given a sleek and educational spin with this fun app.  Flags of countries all over world from Great Britain to Laos act as the card pairs in a classic matching game, or you can take it one step further by testing your national knowledge with “Flag Guess.”

8. My Little Suitcase – Before your next vacation, get your kindergartener excited about travel with this app that will let her pick a destination like the beach or sleepover and pack for the trip by dragging in the items they want to the suitcase.  After packing, the suitcase will arrive at the destination so your kid can unpack.

9. Baby Brain – A Red Tri favorite for parents of newborns.  Check out our article on this baby log that is a must-have during those first few months of sleep deprivation.

10. Skee Ball – We’re not sure if this is more fun for kids or parents, but either way it’s a great 3-D replication of a favorite throwback game.  After you’ve thrown your balls, you can even collect prizes!

11. Fisher-Price has just launched a trio of iPhone apps reminiscent of some of their classic toys: See ‘n Say, Little People Farm, and Chatter Telephone are all tons of fun for kids in the 2-5 age range, as well as for parents who grew up with the original versions.

BONUS: And making life easier for parents-on-the-go is the Texthook, a smartphone holder that attaches to stroller handlebars, a grocery shopping cart, wherever you need to be with your little ones in tow. You’ll be able to access the touchscreen and keyboard while you push or play—we’re totally hooked!

PS: What are your favorites apps – either for yourself or the kiddies? Share your picks in the comment section below.
—Sarah K. Choi

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